When I was little I wanted a light bright. I had friends that had them but I never got to play with them very much. I asked for one for Christmas…. then for my birthday…… but never got one. When my kids were little I bought one……for them….really.

My oldest son never was interested in that so I had to wait until my youngest son was old enough that he wouldn’t eat the pegs. By that time there was a really cool version out with little colored compartments for holding the different colored pegs. He and I laid in the floor for hours poking pegs into black paper.

Now my kids are 18 and almost 16 and the light bright has been long gone………… but I still find those darn pegs!

I decided to treat myself to a pedicure and manicure just before Christmas. I had saved up money so I could have a nice relaxing…. peaceful…………blissful………………. time at the spa. While I’m sitting there with my feet soaking in wonderful smelling water and loving the massage chair these firemen came and said we needed to get out immediately. ERRRRG The person doing my pedicure tried to quickly dry off my feet but they still felt wet when I slipped them into my boots to go outside in the 40 below weather.

I was determined to get my nails done though so I sat at the parking lot across the street and read a book until everything was determined safe and then I went back. Turned out something was too close to a furnace and was melting but there was no actual fire. Apparently it was big news in Fairbanks though because I watched as Channel 11 news showed up and interviewed people. A poor soul that I’m assuming worked for the newspaper was out there taking pictures at 40 below too. I, however, was nice and toasty in my car – thawing out my wet feet.

As soon as the coast was clear I went back and they really gave me the royal treatment since my relaxing pedicure was interrupted. Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh……….

So now my nails (all 20 of them) are smooth and polished a sparkly red!

I had a few more surprises too. Before I woke up on Christmas Eve a gift was dropped off for me but I don’t know who it was from. There was this cute little felt bag with snowflakes on it.

Inside the little bag was another present – A pretty necklace with a snowflake inside! I love the pretty blue stone!

There was also another gift wrapped in tissue paper which turned out to be the cutest platter of flower shaped rice crispy treats with frosting stems on a cute platter.

Oh, and last but not least, I received a surprise package from my sister that contained lots of edible goodies and the coolest socks. There were 4 pair but these are the ones I chose to wear for Christmas Day.

This is the fifth Christmas without you and it is so hard to not be able to hug you and tell you how much I love you. I want to make you a beautiful shawl in the softest red yarn. I know how you love red. I want to give you a dozen red roses mixed with a dozen white roses because you deserve the best. I wish I could have you over for Christmas dinner and sing Christmas songs with you. But of course, I can’t. I can’t do any of those things.

I bought an Amaryllis and planted it in memory of you. Every year since you’ve been gone I have gotten so sad when I saw those flowers in the stores at Christmas time because I know they were your favorite. This year I decided to get one and it is tall and ready to open soon. I know you can’t be here when it opens but I will be thinking of you.

Oh, and mama, a horrible thing happened today and a bunch of innocent little children have gone to heaven along with some of those that cared for them at school. Please hug each one and sooth their spirit. I know you would be the best angel to guide them home.

I just love this time of year! I’ve been listening to Christmas music for a long time now but I can be caught humming Jingle Bells any time of year. I just love the happy spirit of this time of year. I was just thinking it was too bad it was only during this time of year and then I heard this song called “Every Day is Christmas” by Colbie Caillat on her album Christmas in the Sand. I couldn’t find the song on youtube so I am just going to post some of the lyrics. You can read them all here

January always brought me downAll the magic of DecemberIs like a circus leaving townAll I wanna do is to follow it aroundCause everybody wishes it was Christmas all year ’round

To wake up every morningWith a present in my bedThat’s how I’ve been feelingSince the moment we first met

And I don’t need the snow to fallAnd I don’t need the light to shineAnd I don’t need a mistletoeCause I’ll still kiss you all the time

We don’t have to take a sleigh rideFor our hearts to race insideAnd I still get as excitedWhen we go to sleep at nightEvery day is Christmas as long asEvery day you are mine

Anyway, when I heard that song I thought, “wow, what great idea”. Anyone can give a “Christmas” gift any time of the year. So I am going to hold on to that thought and when I start to miss the spirit of Christmas I’m going to make a gift for someone and treat it like a random act of kindness. I can give it to someone when they least expect it and brighten their day.

I also thought of something else. I am making a shawl for my step-mother. I bought this really pretty warm pink yarn called Spa by Natually Caron. The color is called Rose Bisque and as it is working up it feels so soft and silky. It is a lighter weight yarn crocheted up loosely so it will be a nice light shawl perfect for those chilly nights in Georgia during the winter. Well, when I bought the yarn it was on sale and I didn’t know how much I would need so I grabbed extra. I will have enough to make another one so I thought it would be nice to take one to a local nursing home to give to someone who doesn’t get many visitors or gifts from loved ones. I know some people who work there so I’ll ask them to recommend someone who needs a little love. I am almost finished with the one for my step mom so as soon as I get it mailed off I’ll get started on the next one.

Happy 1st day of December everyone. Only 24 more days until Christmas.

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.